Bobby Bradley

Cleveland optioned Bradley to Triple-A Columbus on March 16 and he was not heard from again during the 2020 baseball season. Bradley got his first cup of coffee in 2019 at age 23 and struck out 40.8% of the time with one homer in 49 PA. The strikeout rate was not much better at Triple-A that year (33.8%), but the immense power was more evident in games with Bradley launching 33 HR in 453 PA. We have no way to gauge whether he improved upon his contact issues in 2020; only the fact that the team deemed him unready for a return to the majors. Carlos Santana is gone and Bradley is among the internal candidates to replace him at first base, along with Jake Bauers and Josh Naylor. Bradley would probably benefit from more live reps in the minor leagues.

Looking to spark a lineup devoid of power, the Indians called Bradley up for his major-league debut in late June. At the time, he was hitting .292 with 24 homers for Triple-A Columbus. After fanning in 20 of 49 plate appearances, Bradley returned to the Clippers in mid-July where he spent the rest of the season. He never recaptured the early-season magic, hitting just nine more home runs on the farm to finish at .264/.344/.567. Bradley has power, blasting at least 23 long balls each season since 2015, but his strikeout rate has climbed as he's ascended through the minors. With Carlos Santana at first base and Franmil Reyes earmarked for primary designated hitter duty, Bradley is a long shot to break camp with the Tribe. On the plus side, Bradley generally walks more than 10% of the time and won't turn 24 until the summer. He just needs to find a way to make more contact.

One of the top power hitters in the minors for several years now, Bradley improved his contact skills and batted-ball profile while also getting into better shape in 2017, increasing the likelihood that he will make it as a regular in the majors. He improved his strikeout rate from 29.7 percent to 22.9 percent and cut his pull rate from 49.1 percent to 40.4 percent, showing off more of an all-fields approach. These changes led to slightly less over-the-fence power, but he still finished sixth in the Eastern League in home runs (23) and seventh in ISO (.214) while being the youngest qualified hitter in the league. He hit just .176/.290/.277 in 119 at-bats against lefties, but he did not have noticeable splits in 2016. Bradley will head to Triple-A and won't turn 22 until late May, so he has plenty of time to continue to improve as a hitter. He could be a Lucas Duda type of fantasy first baseman, often sitting against lefties while hitting something like .240/.340/.460 with a few 30-homer seasons.

The slugging first baseman with as much raw power as any prospect in the game showed in 2016 that he could keep his strikeout rate under 30 percent in a full-season league. Bradley barely managed the feat (29.7 percent strikeout rate), but it still feels significant. Last year's .293 BABIP is almost 60 points worse than his previous career low, but it is unclear where his true talent lies. Still, it seems fair to say his .235 average was the product of at least some bad luck. Unlike his hit tool, his power has never been questioned, as he has been the league leader in home runs at every stop as a professional. The ball jumps off his bat in a way that few can mimic. This will be even more apparent when exit velocities on Bradley's home runs start to enter the public space in the coming years. From a production standpoint, Chris Carter is a reasonable floor, while Edwin Encarnacion is a reasonable ceiling. Look for him to spend all of 2017 at Double-A.

After blasting 27 home runs with a .890 OPS in 108 games at Low-A last season, Bradley emerged as the most intriguing first base prospect in the lower levels of the minors. His initial numbers in 39 games after getting drafted in 2014 (.361/.426/.652) put him squarely on the map in dynasty leagues, and he followed that up by completely outclassing the rest of the sluggers in the Midwest League, despite commencing his first full season assignment as an 18-year-old. Bradley, who won’t turn 20 until May 29, has not shown any platoon issues, but there is some noticeable swing-and-miss in his game. He had a 31.8 percent K-rate at Low-A, but still got on base at a .361 clip thanks to a 12 percent walk rate. Bradley’s combination of youth, early professional success, and an approach to all fields bodes well for his ability to make it as an everyday option at the highest level. He should begin 2016 at High-A Lynchburg as one of the youngest position players in the Carolina League.